Means for feeding cut sheets in lapped sequence



Sept. 30, 1958 c. R. KADDELAND MEANS FOR FEEDING CUT SHEETS IN LAPPED SEQUENCE Filed April 8, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. C/7r/s7e/7R Mdc/ehna 2} [4. f ornegs Sept. 30, 1958 c. R. KADDELAND 2,354,235

Q MEANS FOR FEEDING CUT SHEETS IN LAPPED SEQUENCE Filed April 8. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

C/zmfm A. Kadde/a/Ya wan or eys United States Patent MEANS FOR FEEDING CUT SHEETS IN LAPPED SEQUENCE Christen R. Kaddeland, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Miehle- Goss-Dexter, Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Application April 8, 1953, Serial No. 347,518

1 Claim. (Cl. 27175) This invention pertains to improvements in mechanism for cutting a continuous web of material into sheets, then lapping the cut sheets and advancing the stream of lapped sheets to registering means.

The invention is directed more specifically to means in association with the cutting and feeding mechanism whereby the sheets, immediately after being severed from the web, are assembled as a stream of overlapped sheets which is then converted to a stream of underlapped sheets prior to their being conveyed to registering means.

Machines whereby a web of material is cut into a series of individual sheets, and then fed to a printing press, are not new in the art. An example of sheeting machines is disclosed in my prior Patent 2,233,922 in which the cut sheets are conveyed to the impression cylinder without stoppage for registration.

It is one of the primary objects of my invention to provide means in a web sheeting and feeding mechanism, whereby the individual sheets are advanced in stream formation to sheet registering devices and then registered while lapped.

A further salient object resides in the provision of a novel combination with a sheet fed printing press, of web feeding and cutting means whereby the web of paper is cut into sheets of predetermined length, which are thereupon arranged to form a continuous stream of lapped sheets, which stream is then advanced to register mechanism whereby each individual sheet is registered while still lapped, at least in part, by a preceding sheet.

A still further object is to provide means for overlapping a series of sheets in stream formation and for thereafter reversing the lapped relation of the sheets so that registration of each succeeding sheet in the stream of lapped sheets can be accomplished while it is still lapped by part of the preceding sheet.

Another object resides in a novel and improved method of sheeting web material and feeding the cut sheets in lapped sequence to registering mechanism of a printing press, whereby each individual sheet is registered while still lapped by a preceding sheet.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of my invention which I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view, in side elevation, of my invention as associated with a conventional offset printing press;

Figure 2 is a schematic view showing the manner in which each succeeding sheet in a stream of lapped sheets is registered while still lapped by a preceding sheet;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 1, illustrating the formation of the stream of lapped sheets;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the sheet overlapping mechanism; while Figure 5 is a section taken along line V-V of Figure 4.

In drawings, 9 denotes a framework for supporting a web feeding and sheet cut-off mechanism which advances the sheets in lapped sequence over the feed table 10 of a conventional printing press 11. Said table may also be provided with any of the well known front and side guiding mechanisms, against which each succeding sheet is presented for registration.

Each registered sheet is then engaged by the grippers of a transfer mechanism denoted by 13, which transfers the sheets in successive sequence to an impression cylin der 14. 1

Referring more specifically to Figure 1, a roll of paper 17 is rotatably mounted on trunnions carried by a revolvable carrier 18 which in turn is journalled for rotation in the frames 9. The carrier 18 may be of the conventional type disclosed for example, in my prior Patent 2,263,303 and is rotated about its axis by means of the motor 19 for the purpose of permitting the mounting of a fresh roll 21 in the carrier 18 prior to the expiration of roll 17, and also to position the active roll in proper relation to the tension control belts.

Power from the motor 19 is transmitted preferably through the belt 22 to the pulley 23 which is mounted on the shaft 24 journalled in frames 9. Bevel gears 26, mounted on each end of said shaft, drive the pinions 27 fixed to the end of the drive shafts 28. Worms 29, mounted on the opposite end of the shafts 28, engaged a pair of large worm gears 31 connected to opposite carriers 18. The motor 19 is preferably of the reversible type and push button controlled.

As shown in Figure l, the web 32 is led from the roll 17 over a guide roller 33, around a pivotally mounted web tension controlling roller 34, thence about a guide roller 36 and around the web driving rollers 37, 38 and their associated pressure rollers 39 and 40. The web then passes between the rotary cutting cylinders 41 and 42 where it is cut into sheets of predetermined length.

As the web passes between the cutter 41, 42, the leading edge is directed between guides 43, see Figure 3, into the bite of the feed belts 47 and their coacting pressure members 46. The drive roller 44 supporting said belts, is driven at a rate which will produce a belt speed slightly greater than the speed of the web so that when the leading edge of the web enters the bite between the belts 47 and pressure member 46, a slight tension is, applied to the web so as to keep it taut during the cutting of the sheets, assisted by contact of roller 89 with belts 47.

After the severed sheets have passed from contact with the pressure member 46 they are controlled and advanced by the belts 47 which are led around roller 44 and an idler roller 48 and coact with the upper surface of the inclined table 49 to control the advance of the sheets therebetween.

Web tensioning means also is provided for controlling the tension of the web as it leaves the supply roll 17 and until it is wrapped around control rollers 37, 38, and 39 by means of which the sheet length is determined.

This mechanism comprises a series of web tension control belts 62 which are led over a drive roller 63, idler rollers 64, 65 and a belt tensioning roller 66. The belts 62 are arranged to bear against the periphery of the supply roll 17 and, through the necessary gearing, the belts are driven at a speed which will unwind the supply roll at a rate that will maintain the desired web tension.

The web tension control mechanism thus far described may be driven and controlled by conventional means such, for example, as illustrated and described in my prior Patents 2,233,922 and 2,222,462, power for such driving being derived from the printing press through the drive shaft 67. Pinion 68 drives the bevel gear 69, which in turn, through pinion 72, shaft 71, and a transmission and control mechanism 73, indicated in broken lines, drives the associated mechanism. This mechanism includes change gearing, by means of which the speeds of rollers 37, 38, 39 and 40, as well as the web tension control belts 62 and drive roller 44, may be varied to produce cut sheets of various length.

Bevel gear 69, also meshes with bevel pinion 74, mounted on one end of a shaft 76, which shaft carries at its opposite end the bevel pinion 77, the latter meshing with bevel gear 78 secured to the shaft of the slow down roller 51. Rotation of the latter roller controls the forwarding motion of the bank of lapped sheets.

The preferred means for arranging the individual cut sheets in stream formation are illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 and consists of cams 92 mounted on shaft 79 which is driven in timed relation with the press in such manner that, as the rear edge of the preceding sheet is clearing the roller 89, this roller will be lifted to its upper position by said cam, as shown in Figure 4, whereby the leading edge of the next sheet, which is advancing in spaced relationship with the preceding sheet, is raised to overlap the rear edge of said preceding sheet and thereby permitted to advance above said preceding sheet by the cooperation of rollers 89 with belts 47 The shaft 79 is rotatably mounted in a pair of conventionally adjustable brackets, not shown, to extend below the table 49 transversely of the path of the sheets and in a manner that it can be adjusted longitudinally, parallel to and in the direction of travel of the sheets. A series of vacuum wheels 81 are mounted in spaced relation on the shaft 79, and are located in a manner that their peripheries project through slots provided in the table 49 and contact the sheets. As shown in Figure 5, the wheels 81 are formed with laterally extending rims 82, which are provided with a series of openings 83 through a predetermined portion thereof and through which openings suction is applied to the under side of the sheets in timed relation as the sheets move over the table 49.

It will be understood that the slots in the table 49, into which the rollers 81 extend, are of sufiicient length to permit adjustment of the sheet lapping unit longitudinally of said table for the purpose hereinafter explained.

A vacuum tube 84 is associated with the rims 82 of said wheels, each said tube being connected at one end to a source of vacuum. The other end of said tube is formed, as shown in Figure 5, to fit the contour of the inner periphery of the rims 82 so that an effective seal is provided whereby vacuum from said tube will be applied at predetermined intervals to the sheets through the openings 83, for the purpose of controlling them during stream formation, see Figure 4.

A second shaft 86 is mounted parallel to shaft 7 9, below the table 49, which shaft carries a plurality of levers 87, on the free ends of which are mounted, by means of studs 88, a series of rollers 89 having continuous active cooperation with belts 47. The levers 87 are provided with cam followers 91 which are arranged to be engaged by cams 92 the latter being mounted on shaft 79 for rotation therewith. Consequently, through the action of the cams 92 and the followers 91, the rollers 89 are raised periodically from the position illustrated in Figure 3, to their raised position, shown in Figure 4.

Power for driving the shaft 79 and therewith the vacuum wheels 81 and earn 92 is derived preferably from the bevel gear 78 by means of a spur gear 98 secured thereto, Figure 1, which drives the shaft 93 through the compound intermediate gear 94 and the pinion 95 secured to shaft 93, said shaft being suitably supported for rotation in the frames 9. The pinion 96 meshes with the bevel gear 97 on the end of shaft 79.

In order that the sheet lapping unit, including the pinion 96 and shaft 79, may be adjusted lengthwise of the table 49, the drive shaft 93 is splined through a considerable portion of its total length.

At this point I wish it to be understood that the sheet lapping unit, comprising the shafts 79, 86, wheels 81 and rollers 89, as well as the vacuum tube 84, is adjustably supported as a unit below the table 49 so that the complete unit can be placed in any position lengthwise of the table, depending on the length of the sheets to be handled. For maximum sheet length, the unit would be positioned substantially as shown in solid lines in Figure 3, whereas a minimum size sheet would require adjustment of the unit to the dotted line position as indicated in Figure 3. As mentioned above, the table 49 is slotted to permit such adjustments and the drive pinion 96 is adjustable axially along the shaft 93 for the same purpose.

Operation It will be assumed, that the sheet controlling mechanism 73, has been adjusted for the particular length of cutoff sheet required. Such adjustments include the timing of the cutting cylinders 41 and 42 with relation to the press and stream forming unit, as well as for proper knife speed. It also involves-setting of the gears for controlling the speed of the web advancing rollers which also control the speed of the web tensioning device as well as the forwarding of the cut sheet over the lapping unit. These proceedings being approximately the same as disclosed in my prior patents hereinabove referred to.

The sheet lapping unit, comprising the sheet propelling rollers 89 and vacuum wheels 81 with associated mechanism, also must be positioned longitudinally of the table 47 to suit the various sheet lengths.

As the leading edge of the web to be sheeted, reaches belts 47 and coacting pressure members 46, it is advanced over the table 49 until it reaches rollers 89, which also coact with belts 47, and until the rear edge of the sheet passes beyond the point of contact with said rollers 89 at which time it will be engaged by the vacuum wheels 81, see Figures 4 and 5, while the leading edge of the sheet enters the bite between slow down rollers 51 and belts 53, whereby said sheet is retarded to stream speed by the coaction of the vacuum wheels and slow down roller 51, as suction from the tube 84 is applied to the tail end of the sheet, see Figure 4. Consequently, the forward motion of the sheet will be slowed down to the peripheral speed of the vacuum wheel 81, while the tail end will be held tightly against said wheels, whereas the leading edge of the sheet is engaged by the slow down roller 51 and belts 53.

In the meantime, the leading edge of the succeeding sheet, which at the proper time will be severed from the web, is advanced at web speed in spaced relation with the rear edge of the preceding sheet, until severed from the web. At the period when the leading edge reaches rollers 89, these rollers are raised to lift the leading edge of the sheet above and over the rear edge of the preceding sheet, which at this period, is still engaged by the retarding vacuum wheels 81, see Figure 4. It should be noted that the advancing of the succeeding sheet is controlled by the web speed, until it is severed from the web, after which its advance over the stream forming unit and the preceding sheet is governed by the belts 47 and cooperating rollers 89, until it is engaged by slow down roller 51 and vacuum wheels 81 of the stream forming unit, in like manner as described heretofore, and in this manner begins to form the stream of overlapped sheets.

The described sequence of operation will now continue as each succeeding sheet is severed from the web 32.

The overlapped stream of sheets so formed, is subsequently led around the slow down roller 51, whereby the direction of travel and thereby their lapped relation is reversed.

Thereafter, the stream of lapped sheets is advanced between the stream conveying belts 53 and 58 and thence over the feed table 10 of the printing press, see Figure 2, so that the leading edge of each succeeding sheet may be engaged and stopped for registration without affecting the normal advance of the succeeding sheets in the stream of lapped sheets. It will be understood, that any conventional sheet registering devices may be used.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention I wish to cover any such modi- 5 fications that will come within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In mechanism for converting a series of spaced sheets, severed from a web, into a stream of lapped sheets, the combination comprising, a series of tapes for advancing the sheets in spaced relation at a predetermined speed, a pair of sheet advancing rollers mounted for rotation adjacent the forward end of said tapes and having operation to retard the speed of each sheet upon engaging its leading edge, a series of idler rollers, means for raising said idler rollers intermittently into the path of said sheets and in timed relation therewith to engage and raise the leading edge of each subsequent sheet above the rear edge of each preceding sheet, said idler rollers coacting with said tapes to advance the subsequent sheet with respect to the retarded sheet, and rotary suction means mounted below the path of the sheets for engaging and temporarily 6 controlling the rear edge of the retarded sheet while it is being overlapped by the subsequent sheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 961,586 Dexter June 14, 1910 1,894,622 Lindbladh Jan. 17, 1933 1,962,128 Beck June 12, 1934 1,994,012 Broadmeyer Mar. 12, 1935 1,997,850 Belluche Apr. 16, 1935 2,082,240 Belluche June 1, 1937 2,151,703 Kaplan Mar. 28, 1939 2,210,573 Eckhard Aug. 6, 1940 2,233,490 Shields Mar. 4, 1941 2,233,922 Kaddeland Mar. 4, 1941 2,261,968 Matthews Nov. 11, 1941 2,261,972 Matthews Nov. 11, 1941 2,261,973' Matthews Nov. 11, 1941 

